TWO fifth class municipalities in Mountain Province have been commended by the Commission on Audit for judicious spending of their fund allocations under the Bayanihan Grant to Cities and Municipalities.
Government auditors said the towns of Sabangan and Sadanga fully implemented their identified programs, activities, and projects promptly and without deviating from rules on procurement and proper accounting.
Sabangan received P5.627 million in Bayanihan Fund while Sadanga got P5.72 million equivalent to their one month share of internal revenue allotments.
Under Local Budget Circular No. 125 issued by the Department Budget and Management, spending of Bayanihan Funds was supposed to be limited to procurement and expenses related to efforts to control the spread of COVID-19.
Among the identified activities were purchase of personal protective equipment, reagents, kits, medicines, vitamins, disinfectants, tents and other supplies.
Also allowed are food, transportation and accommodation costs for medical personnel and frontline workers; relief supplies to poor households; personnel training; and operating cost of mobile testing laboratories.
The Sadanga government spent half of its Bayanihan Fund to deliver welfare goods to residents, amounting to P2.85 million, with P858,242 going to the construction of quarantine facilities and P925,972 used on the acquisition of medical supplies.
Sabangan on the other hand used P1.854 million on to put up isolation facilities and acquire test kits, P1.5 million for food and relief assistance, and P1.337 million for distribution of vitamins and medicines for the elderly.
“The prompt implementation and utilization of the appropriated funds resulted in the delivery of essential items or needs that addressed the immediate concerns of constituents brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. We commended the management for the efficient implementation of identified programs, activities and projects,” the Commission on Audit said.
